Transition

At Walberton & Binsted CE Primary School, we understand that transitions can be both exciting and challenging for children and families. We believe that getting transition right is a vital part of ensuring every child feels safe, confident, valued and ready to learn.

We work closely with families, early years settings and other professionals to ensure that transitions are thoughtful, supportive and centred around the needs of each individual child.

Enhanced Transition for pupils with SEND

We recognise that transition can be particularly important for some children with SEND, and that a carefully planned start to the school year can help children feel more settled, confident and ready to learn. Our Pastoral Lead coordinates an enhanced transition programme for children who may benefit from additional support. This includes inviting identified children into school with their parents or carers at the start of September, on a day before the wider school returns, so they can meet their teacher, become familiar with the classroom environment and begin the year feeling prepared and reassured.

Starting Reception

Starting school is a significant milestone for children and families. Our aim is to make the move into Reception a positive and successful experience, helping children to feel secure, happy and excited about beginning school life. We recognise that children arrive at school with different experiences, strengths and needs. By building strong relationships with families and early years providers, we ensure that children are known, understood and supported from the very beginning.

Working Together

We believe the most successful transitions happen when schools, early years settings and families work together closely. We have considered and carefully designed our transition process ensuring we maintain open communication and work collaboratively to build a shared understanding of each child.

This includes:

visits to pre-schools, nurseries and childminders
reciprocal visits and professional conversations with early years practitioners
sharing information about children’s strengths, interests and any additional support needs
1 to 1 transition meetings with parents and carers and our Reception teacher
opportunities for children to visit school and become familiar with the environment
Stay and play sessions
Home visits

We have designed our transition process with the DfE's Supporting a smooth transition into reception guidance in mind.

Supporting Parents with School Readiness

School readiness is about far more than academic learning. We value confidence, curiosity, independence and emotional wellbeing as important foundations for a successful start to school.

We encourage and support children to develop skills such as:

becoming increasingly independent with dressing, toileting and handwashing
carrying and organising their belongings
listening to stories on the carpet and following simple instructions
taking turns and playing cooperatively
talking about their feelings and asking for help when needed
becoming familiar with simple routines and expectations

We understand that all children develop at different rates and work closely with families to support every child in their own unique journey.

Familiarity and Belonging

Helping children feel familiar with school before they start is an important part of our transition process. We may share:

photographs of classrooms and key areas
information booklets and welcome materials
stories about starting school
opportunities to meet classmates and staff

We also value information from early years settings about children’s routines, interests and preferred ways of learning. This helps us provide continuity and ensure children feel recognised and supported from the start.

Transition from Reception to Year 1

We recognise that, for many children, the transition from Reception into Key Stage 1 can be a significant and sometimes challenging step. To support this, we have developed a six-week Reception to Year 1 transition programme, designed to help children become familiar with new routines, expectations and learning approaches gradually and confidently. This helps ensure that children feel secure, prepared and ready for the next stage of their school journey.

Transition Throughout School

Transition continues beyond Reception and Year 1 and remains important throughout a child’s time at primary school.

We all support children carefully and deliberately as they:

move between year groups
join the school mid-year
prepare for secondary school
experience changes that may affect their wellbeing or learning

At Walberton & Binsted CE Primary School, we aim to ensure that every child feels known, supported and confident as they move through each stage of their educational journey.